American Family vs. Nationwide: Which Is the Best? (2024)

American Family is a better overall pick than Nationwide, thanks to lower rates, solid customer satisfaction, and a higher Insurify Quality Score.

Taylor Milam-Samuel
Taylor Milam-Samuel
  • 8+ years writing for major outlets, including MarketWatch and Business Insider

  • Master’s in Education

Taylor Mlam-Samuel is a personal finance writer and credentialed educator. When she’s not helping readers better save and spend money, she can be found teaching.

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Sara Getman
Edited bySara Getman
Sara Getman
Sara GetmanAssociate Editor

Sara Getman is an Associate Editor at Insurify and has been with the company since 2022. Prior to joining Insurify, Sara completed her undergraduate degree in English Literature at Simmons University in Boston. At Simmons, she was the Editor-in-Chief for Sidelines Magazine (a literary and art publication), and wrote creative non-fiction.

Outside of work, Sara is an avid reader, and loves rock climbing, yoga and crocheting.

Konstantin Halachev
Data reviewed byKonstantin Halachev
Headshot of Konstantin Halachev, VP of Engineering at Insurify
Konstantin HalachevVP of Engineering & Data Science
  • 7+ years experience in data analysis

  • Ph.D. in Computational Biology

Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.

Updated October 29, 2024

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Nationwide and American Family are both large insurance companies with reputable coverage options. American Family offers lower rates, higher customer satisfaction, and more discounts. But it’s only available in 19 U.S. states.[1] 

On the other hand, Nationwide offers coverage in nearly every state, making it more accessible to drivers. Even though you may pay more for coverage with Nationwide, you can find lower prices in certain states.

As you shop for car insurance, comparing rates, discounts, and coverage options is essential to finding the best car insurance.

Here’s how to determine whether American Family or Nationwide is the best option.

Quick Facts
  • American Family’s and Nationwide’s average car insurance rates are lower than the U.S. national average.

  • Nationwide offers unique coverage options, like vanishing deductibles and accident forgiveness, that aren’t available from American Family.

  • Both insurers offer similar discounts, but neither has a discount for military members.

American Family vs. Nationwide: The verdict

American Family’s average rates are lower for nearly every type of driver, including teens and drivers with violations. The average price difference between the two companies is relatively small — about $15 per month — but it adds up. American Family also earns above-average rankings for customer satisfaction, while Nationwide is consistently below average.[1]

Nationwide stands out with unique coverage options in nearly twice as many states as American Family. Drivers with Nationwide usually pay more, but the company’s numerous discounts might help lower the cost.

Factor
American Family
Nationwide
IQ Score9.18.7
J.D. Power customer satisfaction score828806
Average full-coverage quote$75$84
Available discounts1710
Number of states where it operates1947
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
  • Our editorial team spent more than 350 hours developing the Insurify Quality (IQ) Score and scoring insurance companies. The IQ Score objectively analyzes and calculates a score for insurers using more than 15 crucial criteria. The team weighted criteria by importance to the consumer — factors such as customer reviews and affordability influence the score more than availability and third-party ratings.

    We rate each company on a 1 to 10 scale based on five categories: financial ratings, customer satisfaction, affordability, customer support and transparency, and availability. Insurify updates ratings once a year or as more recent information becomes available.

    • Third-party financial ratings: Insurify uses data from AM Best, S&P, Moody’s, and more to compare insurance companies’ credit and ability to pay out future claims.
    • Customer satisfaction: To calculate this score, Insurify analyzed more than 28,000 customer reviews across 155 car insurance companies. We also consider third-party ratings from J.D. Power, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and Trustpilot.
    • Affordability: Our data scientists analyzed more than 90 million real-time auto insurance rates from our partners across the U.S., as well as available discounts, to calculate an affordability score.
    • Customer support and transparency: This measures coverage options, ease of claims filing, and the insurer's transparency surrounding discounts, coverages, and claims process.
    • Availability and reach: Insurify scores availability and reach by identifying the number of states in which insurers offer coverage and company size by market share.

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American Family

American Family stands out with excellent customer service, low rates, and an almost-perfect IQ Score of 9.1.

Compare personalized, real-time quotes
User Reviews
3.4
IQ Score
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
9.1/10
Liability Only
Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages.
$75/mo
Full Coverage
Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible.
$167/mo

Founded in 1927 in Madison, Wisconsin, American Family Insurance offers more than a dozen types of insurance in 18 states throughout the midwestern and western U.S. The company has an excellent rating from A.M. Best for both financial strength and credit. American Family stands out for its high rate of customer satisfaction, with largely positive online consumer reviews and a well below-average number of complaints in the National Association of Insurance Commissioners Consumer Complaint Index. American Family offers car insurance policyholders 16 different discounts to help lower their rates.

Pros
  • High rates of customer satisfaction

  • Numerous discount and coverage options

Cons
  • Only available in 18 states

  • Rates are merely moderate compared to other insurers

Read more driver reviews of American Family
Thad - October 29, 2024
Verified

Great

They will work with you to help you get the best coverage for your dollar.

William - October 28, 2024
Verified

Price

The rates increase with every renewal period.

Karla - October 23, 2024
Verified

Experience

They were good, but my insurance kept increasing. It just became too expensive.

Nationwide 

Nationwide offers unique coverage options and extensive discounts, but rates are higher, and customer satisfaction is below average.

Compare personalized, real-time quotes
User Reviews
3.3
IQ Score
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
8.7/10
Liability Only
Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages.
$84/mo
Full Coverage
Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible.
$185/mo

In business since 1925, Nationwide is one of the largest insurers, and sells car, homeowners, life insurance, umbrella insurance, and more. In addition to liability, collision and comprehensive, Nationwide provides optional coverages such as towing and labor, rental car, and gap. The company also offers accident forgiveness, and a vanishing deductible that lowers your deductible for each year you drive safely. Nationwide has an A+ rating from A.M. Best for financial stability, and an only slightly higher-than-expected number of customer complaints in the National Association of Insurance Commissioner’s Consumer Complaints Index.

Pros
  • Numerous discount and savings opportunities

  • SmartRide (for safe drivers) and SmartMiles (for low-mileage drivers)

Cons
  • Not available in every state

  • Some discounts and programs not available in all states

Read more driver reviews of Nationwide
Ashley - October 29, 2024
Verified

Great company

Nationwide is a great company. I regret messing up with them!

Keirh - October 28, 2024
Verified

Unsatisfactory Service

I cancelled my insurance. Their rates are too high, they don't treat you properly, and they haven't refunded my money yet.

Earl - October 28, 2024
Verified

I was upset that I received a non-renewal letter over two issues that were resolved a year prior. My local representative resolved the issue quickly.

I was upset that I received a non-renewal letter over two issues that were resolved a year prior. My local representative resolved the issue quickly.

American Family MilesMyWay vs. Nationwide SmartRide

American Family’s MilesMyWay is a pay-as-you-drive program that allows low-mileage drivers to save up to 25% each month. You must install the MyAmFamDrive mobile app and put a sensor in your car, where it uses mileage data to determine your rates.

Nationwide’s SmartRide program tracks four factors: miles driven, hard braking and acceleration, idle time, and nighttime driving. The less you drive and the safer you are, the bigger the discount — up to 15% for fewer miles and 25% for safer driving.

Both programs can help you save a significant amount on coverage. Still, American Family’s program is better if you don’t drive often. The SmartRide program through Nationwide makes more sense if you’re a safe driver who avoids speeding and hard braking.

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American Family vs. Nationwide: Which is the cheapest?

American Family has cheaper rates than Nationwide for liability and full coverage. Average rates are also cheaper for different types of drivers, including people with speeding tickets, DUIs, and accidents.

The cost of coverage can vary depending on your location, driving record, age, and vehicle. Average insurance rates can help you determine which insurers are more likely to have competitive pricing.[2]

American Family: Cheapest for drivers with a clean driving record

American Family has cheaper average liability-only rates for drivers with clean driving records. If you don’t have any driving violations, you’ll likely pay less with American Family.

Driver Type
American Family
Nationwide
Clean driving record$75$84
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

American Family: Cheapest for drivers with a speeding ticket

Coverage costs are similar, but drivers with a speeding ticket can get the best liability-only rates for car insurance through American Family.

Driver Type
American Family
Nationwide
Drivers with a speeding ticket$88$101
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

American Family: Cheapest for teen drivers

American Family and Nationwide both have competitive minimum-coverage rates for young drivers, but American Family has cheaper coverage options.

Driver Type
American Family
Nationwide
18-year-old$129$144
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

American Family: Cheapest for senior drivers 

American Family and Nationwide have similar average liability-only rates for senior drivers, so you might want to focus on other factors — like coverage options and discounts — when deciding between the two.

Driver Type
American Family
Nationwide
Senior drivers$55$56
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

American Family: Cheapest for drivers with bad credit 

Drivers with bad credit typically pay more for car insurance, but you can find the best liability-only rates with an insurance policy from American Family.

Driver Type
American Family
Nationwide
Drivers with bad credit$84$101
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

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Compare coverages: American Family vs. Nationwide

Both insurers offer car insurance coverage that meets state-mandated requirements. The main difference between the two insurers is that Nationwide has additional unique options you can’t get from American Family.

Nationwide and American Family offer coverage for bodily injury liability, property damage liability, personal injury protection, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, collision, and comprehensive.

Liability-only coverage meets state minimum requirements. But if you want additional financial security, you can opt for full coverage, which includes liability, comprehensive, and collision. If you lease or finance your vehicle, your leasing company or lender will require you to have full coverage.

If you’re looking for unique or specific coverage add-ons, Nationwide is a better pick. Drivers with Nationwide can get extra coverage, like accident forgiveness and vanishing deductibles, which American Family doesn’t offer.

Here are the extra coverage options from American Family and Nationwide.

Coverage
American Family
Nationwide
Gap insuranceYesYes
Roadside assistanceYesYes
Rental reimbursementYesYes
Accident forgivenessNoYes
Vanishing deductibleNoYes
Rideshare insuranceNoNo

Compare discounts: American Family vs. Nationwide

American Family and Nationwide offer similar discounts, with American Family offering more options. The main difference between the two insurers is that American Family offers a loyalty discount based on the number of years you’ve been a customer. Nationwide doesn’t have a loyalty discount, but you can save money if your car has an anti-theft device — a discount American Family doesn’t offer.

Here’s a list of insurance discounts for each insurer.

Discount
American Family
Nationwide
Clean driving recordYesYes
Defensive driving courseYesYes
Multi-policyYesYes
Multi-carYesYes
Low mileageYesYes
Telematics (safe driving app)YesYes
Anti-theft deviceNoYes
New carNoNo
Military/affiliationNoNo
Good studentYesYes
LoyaltyYesNo
Auto-payYesYes
Student away at schoolYesNo
HomeownerNoNo
Alternative fuelNoNo

American Family vs. Nationwide FAQs

Choosing between American Family and Nationwide is a big decision. Here are answers to common questions about the insurers.

  • What ranking is American Family Insurance?

    According to the J.D. Power Auto Insurance Study, American Family ranks as one of the top insurers for customer satisfaction. California and the Central region customers rank American Family as the second-best insurance option.[3]

  • What company owns American Family Insurance?

    American Family Mutual Insurance Company owns American Family and other insurance companies, including The General and Homesite. American Family is a mutual insurance company, which means that policyholders are also the owners.

  • Is Nationwide Insurance good at paying claims?

    Nationwide car insurance has an AM Best rating of A (Excellent), which indicates strong financial strength and stable finances.[4] It also indicates that the company is good at paying claims and has enough money to do so.

Sources

  1. Jdpower.com. "2023 U.S. Auto Insurance Study."
  2. III. "What determines the price of an auto insurance policy?."
  3. Jdpower.com. "2024 U.S. Auto Insurance Study."
  4. Best's Credit Rating Center. "Search Results."
Taylor Milam-Samuel
Taylor Milam-Samuel

Taylor Milam-Samuel is a writer and credentialed educator who is fascinated by how people earn, save, and spend their money. When she's not researching financial terms and conditions, she can be found in the classroom teaching.

Sara Getman
Edited bySara GetmanAssociate Editor
Sara Getman
Sara GetmanAssociate Editor

Sara Getman is an Associate Editor at Insurify and has been with the company since 2022. Prior to joining Insurify, Sara completed her undergraduate degree in English Literature at Simmons University in Boston. At Simmons, she was the Editor-in-Chief for Sidelines Magazine (a literary and art publication), and wrote creative non-fiction.

Outside of work, Sara is an avid reader, and loves rock climbing, yoga and crocheting.

Konstantin Halachev
Data reviewed byKonstantin HalachevVP of Engineering & Data Science
Headshot of Konstantin Halachev, VP of Engineering at Insurify
Konstantin HalachevVP of Engineering & Data Science
  • 7+ years experience in data analysis

  • Ph.D. in Computational Biology

Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.

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